An experienced natural history and botanical illustrator, Lizzie’s work appears in books and magazines around the world, on postage stamps and mugs.
She lives very happily in Hay on Wye, and works her garden studio surrounded by plants and birds.
Finding out what I’m working on,
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These are two Fieldfare Turdus pilaris in a hawthorn tree. I recently saw a whole flock of them in a Sycamore and loved the grey heads and warm brown feathers.
They are members of the Thrush family and have the same body shape as Blackbirds, Redwing, and Thrushes although these vary in size.
It was only once I started adding colour to the berries that I thought I might have added a few too many! But I loved doing the lichen on the hawthorn tree - sometimes hawthorn branches are green-blue with the lichens growing there.
#birdart #birdillustration #ornithologicalillustration #fieldfare #turdus #turduspilaris #hawthorn #hawthorntree #hawthornberries #creategus #naturalhistoryillustration #sciart #naturalscienceillustration #natureart #nature #wildlife #ecology
Booking for Cambridge University Botanical Gardens courses in 2024 are now open. I`m lucky enough to be taking three courses:
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/teaching-workshops-dates-for-2024/
One focused on painting leaves, one on sketchbooks work, and one on pencil techniques. They are the only teaching I`ll be doing in 2024. Book through the links on my website or direct through CUBG (below)
For other courses at CUBG over the year, take a look at their website:
https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/education-learning/courses/
@cuBotanicGarden
#botanicalart #botanicalillustration #artworkshop #botanicalillustrationlessons #penciltechnique #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #drawingleaves #leaf
This week`s blog is all about the Lime tree, also known as the Linden.
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2023/11/trees-small-leaved-lime-or-linden/
It`s one of a series on UK trees and their importance to us and to wildlife, how they`ve been used in the past, and how to identify them.
#lime #trees #lindentree #limetree #tilia #tiliacordata #botanicalillustration #sciart #ecology #nature #uktrees #treesofinstagram
An autumnal post. This is a Russula fungus, the Sickener Russula emetica. As the name suggests, it`s worth avoiding if you`re out foraging. The flesh is peppery, and if you choose to eat it raw it can make you really rather sick.
There`s something about the velvety deep colour of the cap and that stark white stipe that is very satisfying. And I loved doing all the pine needles which were fun to illustrate and also give information about the habitat this species grows in.
#fungus #fungi #russula #russulaemetica #sickener #toadstool #botanicalart #mushrooms #botanicalillustration
This week`s blog discusses variegation in leaves - how does it happen and what purpose does it serve?
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2023/09/variegation-patterns-on-leaves/
So if you`ve ever wondered about spotted leaves or why some leaves are tinged red, what happens to make autumn leaves change colour, or how blisters are involved in variegation then take a look.
#variegation #plantcolour #botanicalillustration #patternsinnature #botany #geranium #lungwort #cyclamen #flavonoids #plastid #botanicalart #colour #plantlover #gardening
I got to illustrate the Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria this week. Not only is it the most iconic of all the UK wild fungi, it`s also a LOT of fun to paint.
The contrast between the white stipe and scales and that scarlet cap is very gratifying, and I enjoy adding blue-purple shadows which helps make the whites look spotless. I love the way the colour is concentrated in the centre of the cap and fades outwards to the paler margins. So yeah, it`s been a really fun subject to work on.
#amanita #mushrooms #fungi #botanicalillustration #botanicalart #mycology #illustration #autumn #fungus #amanitamuscaria #flyagaric #flyagaricmushroom #fungusart
Newsletter for the Autumn out:
https://mailchi.mp/780fdaf10e15/lizzie-harper-newsletter-october-2023
It discusses my recent commissions, upcoming projects, films and blogs, and offers original illustrations to buy.
Take a look?
#botanicalart
#botanialillustration #sciart #illustration #naturalhistoryillustration #naturalscienceillustration
This week`s blog is all about potatoes:
https://lizzieharper.co.uk/2023/10/potatoes/
So if you fancy learning more about this common food and the plants it`s related to, take a look.
Doing lots of illustrations on the potato was a real treat, I don`t often get the paint things like sacks, chips, or knives "chitting" potatoes! And I loved learning about all the other members of the potato family - those we eat and those that can kill us.
#potatoes #botanicalillustration #botanicalart #solanum #solanumtuberosum
